By KPAROBO EHVWUBARE

March 14, 2023, the Chief Medical Director (CMD), Delta State University Teaching Hospital (DELSUTH), Oghara, Prof. Nekwu Emmanuel Okolugbo, clocked what has, of recent, been known as “first 100 days in office.” The Chief Medical Director was appointed on December 1, 2022 by the Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa-led Delta State government with a charge to restore the institution lost glory.

Okolugbo assumed office on December 5, 2023. On that same date, he had a town hall meeting with all the management and staff of the State-owned teaching hospital, an indication that he came prepared for the job.

The ‘magic 100 days’ as an occasion is used to showcase landmark achievements within the short period. This magical 100 days, in some states, ministries and agencies, seem to be given more attention than thereafter.

It needs to be pointed out that there seems to be a misunderstanding of what the first 100 days is meant to serve. Whereas, agenda setting by way of declarations and enactment of laws meant to drive the administration is the purpose of the first 100 days, focus appears to have shifted to tangible achievements, as against the unseen strategic plans made to drive governance, which, originally, is the purpose of the first 100 days.

The idea of first 100 days came from the United States of America under President Franklin Roosevelt, the 32nd President of the United States, who was inaugurated on March 4, 1933. Roosevelt’s preoccupation wasn’t necessarily physical infrastructural development but on strategic ideas that could drive his government and change the ugly state of affairs caused by the Great Depression.

Thus, the specific priorities at the outset of his presidency were getting Americans back to work, protecting their savings and creating prosperity, providing relief for the sick and elderly, getting industry and agriculture back on their feet. In order to achieve these lofty goals, Roosevelt enacted 13 major laws in the first 100 days of his presidential term. Ever since then, the first 100 days has assumed a symbolic significance. The foregoing shows that the concept of first 100 days entails setting the direction of governance, based on the declarations, laws, and relationship ratio of any administration. It is meant to chart the way the administration is headed and not an end in itself.

In Delta State, the Chief Medical Director of the state-owned University Teaching Hospital, Prof. Emmanuel Nekwu Okolugbo, clocked his first 100 days in office and marked it with a town hall meeting, the second in the series, held at the institution’s main auditorium by flaunting a number of achievements he has made since assuming office on December 5, 2022.

During the town hall meeting, Prof. Okolugbo reminded management, staff of the institution of his determinations to restore DELSUTH, as embedded in his campaign slogan: “Restoration 22.”

“I am pleased to invite you to be part of my commitment towards making DELSUTH of our dreams come through; we (management) shall be presenting our scorecard and also launching some of our projects,” he told his guests.

In 100 days, Prof. Okolugbo has record giants strides. These include his uncommon resolve and determination to restore the institution’s lost glory; revival of the dialysis center that has been moribund for the past two years, the commissioning of endoscopy machine in the Urology Department that has been down for over two years and the I-care tonometer for the Department of Ophthalmology, restoration of x-ray services, procurement of new machines and breathing life into the hospital morgue.

In the area of staff welfare, The DELSUTH CMD has approved free treatment for hospital staff participating the Delta Contributory Health Insurance Scheme, and free use of the hospital bus by staff, all geared towards motivation the staff for optimum productivity.

Prof. Okolugbo has since put up necessary machineries to woo international organizations, Non-Governmental Organisations, multi-national agencies to come and partner the teaching hospital. He announced during the town hall meeting that the hospital recently secured partnership with NNPC to treat the staff of the Nigerian oil giant.

Indeed, the CMD is out to bring the long-awaited development to DELSUTH as indications have shown that before his appointment, DELSUTH was already on life-support, begging for survival.

According to a hospital staff who preferred to remain anonymous, Okolugbo’s headship of DELSUTH was the first of its kind, judging by its management-staff relationship.

Prof. Okolugbo, no doubt has soft-spot for his staff and patients through tender, listening ears; he has remained cool-headed as his exalted office has not made him swollen-headed and he has not deviated from the mandate as handed down by Governor. Ifeanyi Okowa.

This is because of his humble background and upbringing; his vast knowledge and exposure have assisted him in addressing critical issues as it relates to the hospital and also managing the human resources.

Since the first 100 hundred days is normally for examination of every public office holders on their ability to deliver the mandate of that particular office, with his numerous achievements during the period under review, Prof. Nekwu Emmanuel Okolugbo, would, no doubt, deliver on his mandate, going by what he has in store for the tertiary health facility. Yes, delivering the mandate is possible.

•Kparobo Ehvwubare (Anipr), a Journalist and Public Affairs Analyst, wrote from Oghara, Delta State. Could be reached on +2347067546856, marksbare@gmail.com

Update news